Food storage containers

ABSTRACT

A plastic food storage container includes a container body having a bottom and a peripheral wall, an upper end of the container body having a peripheral rim; a lid having a peripheral edge adapted to matingly engage the peripheral rim; a region of the lid having a lifting tab extending outwardly from the peripheral edge, and a vent located in the region.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 09/503,732, filedFeb. 15, 2000, U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,546 which is based on provisionalapplication Ser. No. 60/134,211, filed May 14, 1999, the entire contentof which is hereby incorporated by reference in this application.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to plastic food storage containers whichincorporate various new features, relating to, for example. attachmentand detachment of the container lids, steam venting and multiplecompartments.

With regard to the attachment and detachment features, the containerlids may have outer peripheral depending walls which are provided withsubstantially V-shaped notches which provide a hinging mechanismfacilitating the removal of the lids from the containers. In addition,the lids may be provided with one or more outwardly extending tabs whichmate with similarly designed tabs extending outwardly from the containerrims which facilitate removal of the lids but which also provideconvenient holding locations for the container/lid assemblies. Thisarrangement permits secure attachment of the lids to the containers, andmay even allow the lid to be opened without being removed from thecontainer. These tabs may also have peripheral depending skirt portionsincorporating notched hinges of the type described above to facilitatelifting of the tabs.

The venting arrangements incorporated into the lids may compriserelatively small domed regions (i.e., bumps) or elongated vent “tunnels”near the outer peripheral edge of the lid, and spaced relatively closelyto the tabs facilitating detachment of the lids. Thus, as the lid isinitially pulled away from the container, steam is allowed to ventalmost simultaneously.

In another steam venting arrangement, a hinged tab or strap is formedwith a detent on a free end thereof which is inserted within a matingaperture in the lid. This tab or strap may be attached directly to thecontainer rim so that when it is in mating engagement with the aperturein the lid. it effectively serves to lock the lid to the container.

Additional features are apparent from the attached drawings and from thedetailed description below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the container and lid assemblyin accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the container and lid assemblyin accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the container and lid assemblyin accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the invention. and

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the container and lid assemblyin accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1, a food storage container in accordance withthe invention includes a container 10 and an associated lid 12. Both thecontainer and lid may be made of any suitable plastic material, and maybe substantially transparent or opaque.

The container 10 includes a bottom 14 and a peripheral wall 16 with arim 18 extending about the periphery of the container. The rim 18 mayhave a depending skirt portion 20 which adds rigidity to the flexiblecontainer. A projecting tab 22 extends outwardly from the skirt portion20 in a comer area of the container and is formed with an elongatedrecess or groove 24.

The lid 12 is formed with a top surface 26 and a surrounding peripheralrim 28 which is designed to mate with the rim 18 of the container body10. Thus, the peripheral rim 28 also includes a depending skirt portion30. In addition, a push-in tab 32 extends outwardly from the skirtportion 30 and is adapted to seat within the slot 24 on the tab 22 ofthe container in order to hold the lid to the container. Thisarrangement also serves as a hinge so that the lid can be opened andclosed without it being separated from the container. Of course, thefrictional holding force can be overcome if separation is desired. Araised tunnel vent 34 extends diagonally across one comer of thecontainer lid, the tunnel vent raised upwardly out of the plane of thetop 26. In that same comer, a tab 36 extends outwardly from the lid rim30 and facilitates removal of the lid. It will be appreciated that asthe tab and lid are lifted, the tunnel vent 34 will permit almostsimultaneous venting of any steam generated by heated food contentswithin the container.

The illustrated container is formed with a 20 oz. “well” but it will beappreciated that the size of the container may vary as desired.

FIG. 2 illustrates a round container 38 and associated round lid 40. Asin the previously described embodiment, the container 38 has a bottom42. a peripheral wall 44. and a peripheral rim 46 which includes adepending skirt portion 48. The associated lid 40 has a top surface 50and a peripheral rim 52 which also includes a depending skirt portion54, it being understood that the rims 46 and 52 are designed for close,mating engagement. A pair of steam tunnels 56, 58 are formed in the topsurface 50 of the lid, in relatively close proximity to a lifting tab 60extending outwardly from the lower edge of the lid skirt 5 4. A secondtab 62 extends away from the skirt 54 at a diametrically oppositelocation. An integral post 64 formed from on the tab 62, and extendingdownwardly from the tab, is designed to mate with a detent 66 formed ina tab 68 extending outwardly from the peripheral skirt portion 48 of thecontainer rim 46. The frictional engagement of the post 64 within therecess 66 provides for secure engagement of the lid to the container andalso provides a convenient holding location, along with the tab 60. Notealso that because the tab 68 on the container underlies the tab 62 onthe lid, when the user can hold the container/lid assembly without fearof the lid separating from the container. The extent of the projectionof the container tab may be less than that of the lid tab to provide aforce application area directly on the lid tab to facilitate the removalof the lid. The length of the tabs and the frictional engagement betweenpost 64 and recess 66 also allow some hinging action between the lid andcontainer.

It is also a feature of the invention that the plastic lid top surface50 be receptive to ink or other marking media, but which also permitsthe media to be wiped off the surface.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the invention including acontainer 70 and an associated lid 72 of somewhat modified oval shape.The container and lid assembly shown in FIG. 3 contains similar featuresas those described previously in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2 with thefollowing exceptions. In FIG. 3, a fold-over vent and lid retentionstrap 74 is integrally formed with the container rim 76 with a postelement 78 formed adjacent the free end of the strap 74. This strap isadapted to extend over the peripheral rim 80 of the lid 72 with the post78 adapted to fit within the vent hole 82 formed in the top of the lid.This strap, when in place with the post 78 engaged within the hole 82,serves both as a steam vent and also as a lid retention mechanism,effectively locking the lid to the container.

The lid 72 is also provided with a domed area 84 formed with a pluralityof pop-in/pop-out date dots 86.

FIG. 4 illustrates yet another embodiment of the invention, including adouble compartmented container 88 and associated lid 90. The container88 includes a pair of separated compartments 92, 94 which extend below agenerally flat surface 96 which also forms part of the peripheral rim 97of the container. The latter also includes a depending skirt portion 98.In this embodiment, the lid 90 includes depressed or recessed regions95, 98 which are adapted to frictionally engage within the containercompartment portions 92, 94. These recessed regions 95, 98 aresurrounded by a flat surface 100 (that also forms the peripheral edge ofthe lid) adapted to seat on the top surface 96 of the container. Itshould be appreciated, however, that the lid 90 could also be formed ina manner similar to those described in connection with FIGS. 1-3, with adepending skirt portion adapted to telescope over the depending skirtportion 98.

The lid 90 is also formed with a molded in accordion hinge 102 extendingacross the lid, between the recess regions 95, 98, thereby providing atransverse hinge permitting the container lid to be removed from thecontainer. The hinge 102 allows the container to be folded over ontoitself, with ridges or tabs 99 engaged within mating recesses 101.

Note also the cut-out region 104 in one corner of the container 88 whichprovides access to the corner region 106 (that thus serves as a liftingtab) of the lid, thereby facilitating remove of the lid from thecontainer. A steam tunnel vent 108 extends diagonally across the cornerportion, adjacent the lifting portion 106. A similar but smaller tunnelvent 110 extends across a corner portion of the recessed portion 98,thus providing separate and discrete tunnel vents for both compartments92 and 94 of the container.

In the event the lid has a depending skirt portion as in the previouslydescribed embodiments, V-shaped notches would be provided in theperipheral skirt portion at locations corresponding to the edges of themolded in accordion hinge to facilitate removal of the lid.

While the invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment,it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thedisclosed embodiment. but on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A plastic food storage container comprising acontainer body having a bottom and a peripheral wall, an upper end ofthe container body having a peripheral rim; a lid having peripheral edgeadapted to matingly engage said peripheral rim; a region of the lidhaving a lifting tab extending outwardly from said peripheral rim, andat least one vent located in said region of said lid; said containerbody divided into two compartments and said lid divided by a hinge intotwo lid portions, one for each of said two compartments; wherein saidtwo lid portions have cooperating means for securing one of said lidportions hinged back onto the other of said lid portions; and furtherwherein a vent is provided in each of said two lid portions.
 2. The foodstorage container of claim 1 wherein said hinge comprises a molded-inaccordion hinge.